Necropsy Shows Dog Made to Pull Sled Inhaled Vomit, Died of Pneumonia

Update (April 26): This poor dog’s intestines were inflamed, his skeletal muscle cells were dying, and his muscles were wasting away, yet Hugh Neff forced him to pull a sled until he inhaled his own vomit and died of pneumonia. This should earn Neff a lifetime ban from the Yukon Quest and the Iditarod—which allowed him to compete just a month later and drop seven suffering dogs along the way—and all other races. Until the Iditarod releases the veterinary records of all of the dogs dropped from the race, we can only assume the worst—that many were close to experiencing a horrible death just like this one. PETA is calling on Alaskan and Yukon authorities to launch a criminal investigation into his death and conduct an assessment of all surviving animals in Neff’s custody.

Originally published on February 10, 2018:

We’re still weeks away from the 2018 Iditarod, but an Iditarod musher has already raced one dog to death. Yukon Quest race officials have verified that a dog run by Iditarod veteran Hugh Neff has died on the trail.

According to reports, initial necropsy results show that the five-year-old dog named Boppy died from aspiration. One speculation is that he had pneumonia, which was exacerbated when he was forced to run, but it means that Boppy couldn’t breathe and ran himself to death. More details on the death are expected to be released one month after the 2018 race ends.

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When will these senseless dog deaths end?

With the 2018 deadly Iditarod race just around the corner, PETA suspects that this poor dog won’t be the last body. This cruel, greedy game in which the dogs are unwilling players, pushes them to the max.  Their paws often become painfully damaged, they are forced to run up to 100 miles a day across treacherous ice through biting winds, blinding snowstorms, and subzero temperatures, and they are kept on short tethers when not racing.

Help PETA shut down the horrific dog-sled industry, starting with the Iditarod.

Dogs deserve far better than to have to endure a lifetime of isolation, cruelty, suffering, and death.

After hearing from PETA supporters, many companies have dropped their Iditarod sponsorships. But some others, including Jack Daniel’s, Coke, Chrysler, and Alaska Airlines, continue to fund this deadly spectacle. Stand with PETA by demanding that they stop sponsoring this abusive race. Write to these companies now: